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Tariq Falfal, after hearing that Goleta City Councilmember Roger Aceves allegedly called him a “turban-head,” thinks the elected official should be removed from office. “This is not the kind of person who should be representing people,” he said.

The dispute revolves around an incident that took place on the morning of April 15 in the County Administration Building’s parking lot. Aceves, on his way to a meeting, parked in a visitor’s spot as he normally does, but was asked by an attendant to move to a space reserved for county employees in order to free up public parking on the busy tax day. However while walking to the building, Aceves — apparently caught in the middle of a slight miscommunication — was asked by another parking employee, Tariq Falfal, to move back to the space he had originally parked in.

Admittedly miffed by the back-and-forth, Aceves let Falfal know as much but was reportedly met with a cold shoulder when he protested. “This conversation is over,” Aceves remembered Falfal saying, “You need to move your car. Now.” Falfal, said Aceves, then turned his back to the councilmember who consequently stormed off. “Okay, I’m an elected official coming into the County Administration Building to conduct official business,” Aceves told The Independent on Thursday, “and I’ve got this county employee who was quite rude. For those few seconds, I was pissed.”

Paul Wellman (file)

Roger Aceves

According to Santa Maria mayor Larry Lavagnino, who arrived at the county building the same time Aceves did and was waiting for him at the entrance with 1st District Supervisor Salud Carbajal, Aceves was visibly upset when he approached. “As I was walking to the building I was fuming,” concurred Aceves. Pulling Carbajal aside, Aceves gave him an earful about the exchange. “You gotta do something about your employees,” Aceves admitted telling Carbajal.

The conversation purportedly continued as the group walked inside and got in an elevator. That’s where, according to a witness who was with the group in the elevator, Aceves said to Carbajal, “You gotta do something about that turban-head.” The person who heard the alleged statement has worked on and off for the county for more than 20 years and was on her way to her office. She asked to be kept anonymous, but has reportedly been involved in an investigation launched by the county’s Human Resources department. Having known Falfal and interacted with him in the parking lot for years, she said she counts him as a friend.

Upset by what she supposedly heard, and shocked at Carbajal’s lack of response, the witness told Falfal what had happened. Falfal — a 22-year-old Lompoc native — was taken aback. “I was in shock,” he told The Independent this week. “That’s not something you expect to happen to you at work.” Falfal said he’s dealt with his fair share of disgruntled people while on duty — “Parking is a pretty emotional topic down here in Santa Barbara,” he said — but has never been the victim of discrimination.

The next day Falfal contacted county HR which then opened an inquiry into the alleged incident. Falfal, who has worked for the county since 2006, also said he called the City of Goleta but was purportedly told by an HR manager that there was nothing that could be done as the city government does not have an anti-discrimination policy. According to county counselor Dennis Marshall, who would not comment on the case and could not even confirm that an investigation had begun, all cases are looked into and completed within 90 days.

Carbajal would not comment either, saying that because he was “in the vicinity” of Aceves when he made the statement in question, he won’t speak to the matter. “Because I was there my feedback is important to what was said and what wasn’t said and by who and what,” he said. “The county takes every complaint of discrimination seriously, and our HR and County Council’s office are pursuing a review of this matter and all the facts associated with this situation that is keeping within our policies.” Lavagnino, who was in the elevator, said he never heard Aceves use the derogatory phrase.

Aceves, for his part, categorically denied ever calling Falfal a turban-head. “I said it was the guy who wears a turban on his head,” he stated, clarifying that he used the identifier to make clear to Carbajal which parking attendant he was referring to. Aceves had been a police officer for more than 30 years before entering local politics, and said it was his training that led him to physically describe Falfal “from the top down,” as he characterized it. “If it was a guy wearing a baseball cap, I would have said it was a guy wearing a baseball cap to identify him and then worked my way down,” Aceves said. “At no time did I refer to him as a turban-head. I didn’t even know what his nationality was. If you look at him, he looks Mexican.”

“My ultimate goal,” Aceves went on, “was to describe to the supervisor who I was talking about and let him know what happened. I could have taken a whole different course of action,” he said. “I could have found out who [Falfal’s] supervisor was and called him and complained that the employee was rude. But I don’t do that. I’ve worked in the public sector all my life, and I know how easy it is for someone to complain about a public employee.”

Multiple people present that day asserted that Falfal — who is half Libyan — was not wearing a turban, and he said he’s never worn one. “I’ve never worn a turban in my whole life,” he said. “I was wearing jeans, sneakers and a polo shirt, and may have been wearing a beanie.” Aceves, however, seemed sure of what he saw. “I remember him wearing a turban,” he said. “Was I mistaken? I don’t think so.” Aceves used the fact that the anonymous witness seemed to know who he was referencing as proof that Falfal must have been wearing a turban. “They knew exactly who I was talking about,” said Aceves. “How would the informant know I was talking about him, unless he has a worn a turban before?”

Aceves is adamant that, although upset at Falfal for what he perceived as a lack of respect, he never uttered the disputed words. “I think the record needs to be set on this,” he said. Likening the chain of events to a game of telephone, Aceves claimed that someone must have overheard the conversation with Carbajal and misinterpreted his phrasing. “It would never come out of my mouth,” he asserted, “because it’s so egregious. I could have called him every name in the book right then and there when I was dealing with him. But no, I took the high road and walked away even though he turned his back on me. I could have been the asshole I’m being described as, but I decided not to.”

Aceves said that the fact he is accused of being a racist is appalling and upsetting. “It hurts me that someone would say I’m a racist, that I referred to someone in a derogatory manner,” he said. “As man of color who works so hard in this community to keep it safe and free of discrimination, I would never do that.” Aceves, who is Latino, pointed to the fact that he had worked as a hate crimes investigator while in the police force and looked into every such incident documented within the City of Santa Barbara.

This, he argues, makes him especially keen to the issue and wary of the way he conducts himself. “It’s very important to me how I operate as a public official,” he said. “That’s the way I operated as a police officer for over 30 years, and now as an elected official for almost four years. Never in my life have I been accused of being discriminative, a racist, and I find it offensive,” he went on. “I want to stand up on top of this table and scream and tell people that I’m not a racist.” Aceves is currently running for reelection to the Goleta City Council this year.

Additionally, Aceves said, his own experiences with discrimination have heightened his sensitivity to off-color remarks. “I have suffered some of the most egregious racial discriminations all my life,” he said. “I of all people am very sensitive to these issues — more sensitive than most because I’ve lived through it.” He relayed a story that occurred in the wake of 9/11 when plainclothes police officers, including himself, were stationed throughout Santa Barbara Airport on the lookout for possible threats. One officer who had just come on duty, and who didn’t know Aceves, reported Aceves to his superior, saying he looked suspicious and Middle Eastern. The accident sparked a series of practical jokes within the department at the expense of Aceves who eventually reported the shenanigans. The subsequent investigation found that he was working in a “hostile work environment.”

Also, the fact that he is an elected official, Aceves argued, has caused what he described as a “nonissue” to blow out of proportion. “This is only becoming a press incident because I’m an elected official. If it had been anybody else, it wouldn’t be a news story,” he said.

Aceves also didn’t mince words when criticizing the person who allegedly heard him call Falfal a turban-head. “If they were so upset by a remark I supposedly made, they should have said something right there and then instead of running to the media,” he said. “And if it was so bad, why didn’t Salud say anything?” Aceves also attacked the woman for remaining anonymous, as well as the fact that news outlets are using her as a source. “She doesn’t even know me,” he said.

The witness, speaking to The Independent on Friday, admitted she did not stick up for Falfal when she heard the alleged comment, but that she was intimidated by the entire situation. “I’m disappointed in myself for not saying anything,” she said, “but I didn’t think it was my place to.”

Falfal said that while he would have accepted an apology from Aceves, the fact that Aceves is outright denying the comment has made him less forgiving. “The longer this goes on without anything happening, the more and more it bothers me,” he said. “An apology is not going to do it. I’m not saying he’s a racist, but the fact that he can say something like that in anger — and not in a bad joke or something — makes me think there is some kind of hate in him.” Falfal also said that he’s found himself stewing over the issue, and that it’s affected his personal life. “I’m usually a happy-go-lucky person, but I’ve noticed I’ve been a little more angry and impatient with people close to me.”

Falfal said he has another meeting with the county HR department this Wednesday.

Comments

If he did it he is a tool, and Goleta should censure him and it should cost him re-election if thats in his future plans.

How is this a County of SB HR matter though? If he is a City of Goleta councilman what does that have to do with County of SB HR? Can the Indy answer that? Does that mean if I as a private citizen insult a county employee thats a HR matter.

I'm also a little shocked we pay for parking attendants at the county building? We can afford that but we might have to lay off a Sheriff or Firefighter? Totally apart from all this why dont we eliminate those positions and perhaps a HR job or two and keep a social worker, sheriff, or county fire position.

So we have one witness who says Aceves made this comment that branch of government has no anti-discrimination policy, Carbajal isn't talking, and Aceves thinks that his own heretige makes him more likely not to be a racist?

The employee's position is not to park cars, it is to maintain county vehicles and manage parking lot operations. The fact that Aceves, who has parked his vehicle at the county administration building multiple times, chose to park his car in a space not reserved for his use, is proof that the lot needs to be monitored. The fact that Falfal asked Aceves to move his car shows that Aceves does not receive special treatment, and that's what pissed Aceves off.

First of all, what does the fact that Falfal is a lot attendant have to do with anything...and why should he not have a job, while a career politician should?

Why should Falfal be fired, while Aceves considers himself incapable of racism because of his ethnicity?

And what's this nonsense of "he looks Mexican" all about? How can he "look Mexican" one second, and then all of a sudden he's "the guy with the turban on his head"? Which IS it, Mr. Aceves?

Lot attendants downtown are generally pretty darn courteous and pleasant, despite having horrible jobs, awful pay, and dealing with throngs of self-entitled jerks on a daily basis. Aceves might just have gotten on Falfal's last nerve that day, who knows?

Does it seem like Falfal may have been abrupt? Well, if he said what it is alleged he said, yes it does. And if that is the way he speaks to customers, then perhaps a combination of a conversation on basic manners AND the backup of his employers when he has to deal with jerks all day long might be in order. There are definitely two sides to THAT part of the story.

Still, Aceves doesn't get a free pass, and neither does Carbajal. If Aceves said what he did, and if Carbajal compounded the sin by tacit agreement, then they both blew it.

Gee, Aceves was a government attache on a big important mission in a hurry. Well, isn't that special? Maybe he should leave the house a little earlier and plan for a lot of traffic in the overstuffed town his and his various colleague's policies have all helped to create.

There is more to this story than is being told. It's pretty clear that Falfal was having a lousy day, he is most likely overworked/underpaid as everyone at that level of the employment food chain is.

No doubt Aceves got snotty and pushy and gave Falfal an earful of the old "Don't you know who I AM??" stuff and Falfal snapped and told him off.

Bad enough..on BOTH ends. Aceves' alleged "turbanhead" comment just completely tipped the entire incident into an ugly, racist nightmare. Carbajal allegedly standing there and going along with the alleged remark just adds to the mess.

There just will never be enough PC and spin to fix this...sorry. Silk purse....sow's ear....etc.

If Mr. Aceves said exactly what he said he said, the two words in question could have been easily heard as "strung together" by a listener. The words "on his" would not have been said as loudly in the sentence, leading to a mis-hearing of the statement in question. Try it!

Mr. Aceves' claim that being Latino innoculates him against being prejudiced is ludicrous. This incident makes me wonder what other things elected officials like Aceves and Carbajal say behind the backs of non-Latinos.

Anti-white and anti-black prejudice is also part of the Latino gang culture -- recall that the Federal charges in the Gator Roll arrests included civil rights violations-- in particular gangs harassing local blacks.

Mr. Carbajal has been very free in the past about crying xenophobia. Maybe Aceves and Carbajal are engaging in projection.

that it's affected his personal life. "I'm usually a happy-go-lucky person, but I've noticed I've been a little more angry and impatient with people close to me."I smell a lawsuit. Now he can sue the county and then county workers can be even more underpaid.

What a friggin bunch of bickering at the level of 9 year-olds. Our tax money supports these people? Every single one involved in this should get out their checkbooks and pay back the County and/or the City of Goleta for all expenses (salary, car, rent on the parking place etc) incurred on that day by them. We deserve mature and high-minded public servants, not bickering children. Meanwhile, the County has, what, a $30 million deficit, including pension payments due?

Reminds me of the incidence many years ago when a handicapped woman parked in an official's spot, and came back to find the air let out of all her tires. Different scenario, but the arrogance is the same.

Whether the statement made was 'turban head', or "the guy with the turban on his head", it was derogatory. I would opt that Aceves did not say it in the second way, but in the first. He is just backtracking to cover up for his obvious lack of tact. The fact that he is trying to change the way it was heard is also proof that he did make the discriminatory remark.

Amazing how one's true colors often come out in anger. But blame the listener or witness for being shocked by this behavior. Of course, he IS an elected official, and everyone should consider this a non-issue..

How the hell is Falfel a "victim"? I definitely smell a lawsuit. Turban, beanie; who cares. How about establishing some rules in that parking lot so politicians don't get confused and bother real working people.

"Carbajal would not comment either"Don't forget people, Aceves, Carbajal, and all other elected official are public servants and as such are supposed to be accountable to those they work for, and they work for us--their constituents.

I think EastBeach hits it on the head about the cover up being worse than the original story. Since when did it become acceptable for politicians to avoid discussing incidents? If Carbajal was there, why doesn't he just tell us whether or not Aceves made the comment in question?

What is even more puzzling to me is that Carbajal isn't the one who is being accused of anything so it would seem that he shouldn't be worried about simply telling us what happened.

Even if Carbajal is following some official procedure, the procedure of remaining silent is disturbing.So much for open government.

"The next day Falfal contacted county HR which then opened an inquiry into the alleged incident. Falfal, who has worked for the county since 2006, also said he called the City of Goleta but was purportedly told by an HR manager that there was nothing that could be done as the city government does not have a anti-discrimination policy. "

Could the writer of this article or any of the bloggers here please tell me what course of action a Goleta city employee would take if they were a victim of workplace discrimination? Why isn't this claim being addressed--assuming it's true?

We have nothing better to think about? Agree with comments to the effect of both men should just admit they were both a bit at fault... get over it. WAY BIGGER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT - like how about firing 1/2 the government employees and see how much money we ALL save!

I don't get why the fact that Falfal has a job as a lot attendant has anything to do with anything in this discussion. Do I find it annoying that nearly every scrap of off-street parking in the city has a guard in it? Yeah, I do. I knew we were in trouble when I saw guards in grocery store lots. That's a pretty clear message that there are too many people and not enough places to put them.

Ten pounds of poop has never, nor will it ever, fit in a five pound sack. SB has too many people, and not enough housing, parking or general infrastructure to accommodate them all.

However, if he wasn't there, the lot would be crammed with poor fools trying to get business done down there, without spending 30 minutes looking for a place to park. Let's face it, SB is not exactly a model of stellar planning, and just the thought of having to go down there puts a chill of terror into the hearts of even the most intrepid individuals.

So it's with the greatest reluctance that I say this: without folks like Falfal keeping watch over parking lots, the lots would be rendered useless for actual visitors/customers.

I am VERY much in favor of cutting government fat wherever we can ferret it out. County and City government needs to go on a strict diet. We all know this, and yet when it comes time to suggest cuts, it's always the lot guard or the clerical staff...and never the fat floating on the top.

Falfal isn't the problem here. Focusing on the fact that he exists is just smoke/mirrors in an attempt to detract from the real issue here, which is an alleged insensitive comment from one guy to another guy in an elevator who probably thought he was "among friends"... nudge-nudge-wink-wink.

Is it a tempest in a teapot? Of COURSE it is, but it points to the bigger picture. Politicians, celebrities, and whomever is the golden child/privileged group du jour get a free pass to do and say whatever they like, and nobody else better DARE say anything about it.

You better believe that if Falfal was in an elevator and he spewed something as tactless and crude about someone of another race or religion, thinking he was "among friends" and it was overheard by a third party and reported, all hell would break loose. And nobody would dare accuse the witness of being overly sensitive, nor suggest that the target in question shouldn't be working there.

This incident illustrates several big problems that cry out to be addressed. Will that happen? Of course not.

This will all blow over and Aceves & Carbajal will continue to walk on water, unchallenged and more bulletproof than ever. There MIGHT be a tiny, ceremonial slap on the wrist...but I doubt it.

Falfal and the witness will be trashed, smeared, and made the villains here, while Aceves & Carbajal will be portrayed as victims of a "disgruntled employee".

Falfal will be quietly pushed out of his job when no one is looking, his workplace made so miserable by new and completely unattainable special requirements that there is no way a human being could possibly fulfill them. Suddenly he will find himself being written up for every toilet break lasting longer than 30 seconds, or for having four hairs out of place, or the wrong color socks...then fired "for cause", with no recourse available. He'll be described as a "disgruntled ex-employee" and a troublemaker.

Aceves and Carbajal will by then no doubt be elevated further to the status of full-fledged local heroes.They'll have statues in the town square and an annual holiday to commemorate their dedication to the people of the community.

That's how things work. Put this post in a time capsule and see if it doesn't come true.

Holly the closest job description I can find for his position pays about 55k a year with the benefits rough estimate. We are looking at laying off public safety but we can keep jobs like his? Its not slamming him but if positions like his were to be eliminated there might be other reasons.

If Aceves said it he deserves to fry by not being reelected or resigning, however since he is not a county employee I still don't understand how its a HR issue for the county.

I get this treatment everyday here on the East Coast and I'm WHITE!I am told by Latino People, Black People and Other People, that I'm a NAZI, a Stupid Red-Neck, an Ignorant White Racist.I get it! It's called Pay-Back for wrongs of long ago, before I was born, before my family left Europe but I am to pay for those wrong doings.I GOT IT!Welcome to America, now go back home!

Lost in all this political and social claptrap is the bare fact that the palace of all parking structures is directly across Anacapa from the county admin bldg., with 75 minutes free and plenty of spaces available all the time. Why is the county providing ANY visitor parking for anyone, except perhaps the disabled? Didn't happen during my career, when the palace was a much smaller surface parking lot.

Aceves is clearly racist and he should slither back under the rock from which he emerged. Tariq Falfal is a good man and doesn't deserve such treatment from someone of Aceves' ilk. Falfal is a vehicle dispatcher, not simply a parking lot attendant. His job is necessary for county employees to do their jobs.

Oh....here we go again...All the usual commenters adding their own slant to the story. Don't you all have anything better to do? Racism through the eyes of the people who are responding to a story and not believing what someone said. This can go on forever, like the game telephone......I don't believe any of you have a clue

GregMohr has it right. There doesn't need to be any visitor parking in the County lot. Actually, the lot should be run like the city lots, free 75 minutes - everyone pay for the rest. County employees are highly paid and should not get the perq. of free parking. The only exceptions should be cars needed for emergencies. Why is a dispatcher needed, anyway, could someone explain?

So while all this is going on and bloggers are fighting Carbajal is keeping quiet and hardly anyone is saying anything about that.

Holly's prediction is coming true. By the way, think about Aceves's comment about how his ethnicity precludes his being likely to be a racist and think about how racist that is. Is he really saying racism doesn't exist within ALL ethnic groups?

Obviously, political loyalities trump the desire for honest governance. Their supporters should feel betrayed by these men and should look for replacments but as I've said before, as long as the other side doesn't win it doesn't matter how badly your politician du jour behaves.

Cheap, but not vehement. Vulgar, but short of ''effing rag-head." It's like Aceves grabbed the only epithet within reach, not like he was venting anti-Islamic feelings at the top of his voice in Falfal's presence. Let's not confuse social infractions with social felonies.

Anyway, DID Mr Falfal in fact have a turban on his head? If he did, then Aceves' disrespectful comment becomes even weaker. To insist it's a big insult is to insult turbans, really.

Since when does over-worked and under-paid an excuse to act "abruptly" or inconsiderate? It is not a position of slavery. YOU choose whether or not to remain employed at a particular place of employment. There isn't anyone chaining you to the "chair". If you don't like your job or feel your underpaid, then QUIT!!!!! That is your right.

I'm a County employee who has worked at the admin building downtown for the last 8 years. Tariq is a great employee who is always very courteous and respectful in managing the County's motorpool. He has to deal with numerous people trying to park in the County parking lot which is reserved for the County motor pool cars which I can imagine might be frustrating at times especially when some douchey politician is trying to make an excuse to park there. He doesn't deserve to be slandered for doing his job. The comment made by Aceves is racist and completely inexcusable. Carbajal's response is also completely spineless. The fact that he won't come forward and tell the truth is spineless. He's shown a pattern of not saying anything unless it benefits him politically. Also, Tariq has never worn a turban! That is a ridiculous cover up excuse by Aceves. And the County does need parking lot attendants. They are responsible for checking in and out motor pool cars to County employees as well as enforcing parking rules.